Washington (CNN) – President Barack Obama's campaign has made a very small ad buy in Minnesota to counter a new purchase by Mitt Romney in the state, an Obama campaign official and a Republican ad tracking source told CNN.

Earlier Friday a Romney campaign official confirmed it had bought a small amount of television ad time in Minneapolis. Two ad tracking sources told CNN the Romney buy was about $30,000 and would run Saturday through Tuesday. The amount of the Obama buy has not been disclosed.- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

One Democratic source tracking media buys dismissed Romney's move, calling it a "press release" trying to generate buzz about a tightening race that he does not believe exists there.

Republicans, however, say they feel there is some movement in the state helping them. A Romney campaign aide confirmed the buy saying "Our map is expanding." Romney advisers point to recent partisan polling showing a tightening race in Minnesota with the margin in single digits.

Minnesota has been considered a safe Democratic state for many years in presidential races. But the Obama campaign did send Jill Biden, the wife of the vice president, to the state for a visit earlier this week.

Romney has gotten some support already there as one Republican-leaning group, American Future Fund, has been on the air recently spending more than $1.5 million criticizing President Obama's record and touting Romney.

Another benefit in purchasing time in Minneapolis is that you get your message seen in parts of Wisconsin. The Minneapolis market reaches approximately 7 counties of neighboring Wisconsin, which is about 5% of the state where there is a fierce ad battle ongoing. CNN rates Wisconsin as a "toss-up" state.

The Obama campaign had previously put a small amount towards cable ads in Minneapolis and radio commercials in the Duluth area.

- CNN Chief National Correspondent John King contributed to this story.

soundoff(13 Responses)

ThinkAgain: All of the GOP's policies are PROVEN FAILURES

Mittens 'n' Munster like to yammer on about how the government shouldn't be investing in companies, like the $90 billion invested in green energy. They've both been lying about how "half" of those companies (like their favorite, Solyndra) went bankrupt. Here are the FACTS (google it if you don't believe me):

Compare that to Romney's Bain Record:
77 businesses, 22% filed for bankruptcy or closed within 8 years
Bain lost all money invested in 8% of them

Here's Bain's "Solyndra," a company called Lifelike that made twin dolls using a photo of your child (I know ... creepy):

In 1996, Bain investment $2 million, including a personal loan by Mittens. Shortly before it went bankrupt, Bain sold its stake in the company for $15,000. That's a 99% loss on investment.

So I'll give Mittens this: when it comes to being better at something, he's better at picking losers than the government.

Obama/Biden 2012 = The only sane choice

October 26, 2012 11:18 am at 11:18 am |

jinx88

Good luck with that. The Repukes should be spending the money for Michelle Bachman to help her hold her seat, which she has a good chance in losing.

October 26, 2012 11:19 am at 11:19 am |

Lynda/Minnesota

"Romney has gotten some support already there as one Republican-leaning group, American Future Fund, has been on the air recently spending more than $1.5 million criticizing President Obama's record and touting Romney."

It is a truly foolish ad. Then again, most ads coming from the right are foolish and really aren't worth the funding. No doubt Mr. Mittens ad won't be any different. I suspect he's centering more on the Wisconsin media area ... which is just as foolish as using Minnesota media to get to Wisconsin. In the long run, he's not going to pick up either state.

October 26, 2012 11:19 am at 11:19 am |

California Gary

It must not be going well for them in the battleground states if they are fishing in the deep blue waters of Minnesota looking for a miracle.

October 26, 2012 11:21 am at 11:21 am |

Bill from GA

Romney and his cohorts continue to bash Obama on the economy.

Another ticker article about GDP shows it at MINUS 5.3% the First Quarter of 2009, when Obama took office. By the Forth Quarter of 2009, when the Stimulus was taking hold, and TARP's effects were stopping the downfall of Wall Street, GDP was up to 4.5%. (BTW, almost all republicans in Congress were against TARP.)

So is romney a poor businessman, who can't see GROWTH when it is staring him in the face, or is he lying to the American people.

The chart also shows how GROWTH STOPPED when the republicans got their 41 votes in the Senate and began their filibusters, and later got control of the House.

October 26, 2012 11:24 am at 11:24 am |

NEVER to VOTE REPUBLICAN again

NO Way MN is voting in Romney! We are way too smart for that!

October 26, 2012 11:35 am at 11:35 am |

ThinkAgain: All of the GOP's policies are PROVEN FAILURES

@Bill from GA: "So is romney a poor businessman, who can't see GROWTH when it is staring him in the face, or is he lying to the American people."

Lying, lying through his teeth and hoping he and Munster can fool enough people in his party to once again vote against their own self-interest.

October 26, 2012 11:42 am at 11:42 am |

Thomas

Maybe Mitt's son owns voting machines in Minnesota as well as Ohio ?

October 26, 2012 11:51 am at 11:51 am |

Minnesota! Seriously

I try not to tell other people how to spend their money, but........

That is $30,000 in wasted television ads that could have gone to actually do some kind of good for people in need.

Such a waste.

October 26, 2012 12:03 pm at 12:03 pm |

TheVoice2

I think Mitt Phony must be going for the popular vote because he is not going to win the electoral.

October 26, 2012 12:04 pm at 12:04 pm |

GI Joe

Stericycle – a Romney investment – disposed of ground up aborted fetuses. Made a lot of money from abortion.

October 26, 2012 12:21 pm at 12:21 pm |

MikeyB

Wow, if the campaign is spending money there, you know it must be in contention; donors wouldn't put up with buying ad time in states that he has no chance. He's not buying ads in California.....yet.

I think the gay "marriage" question on the MN ballot is going to damage Obama there; conservative turnout is going to be huge because of it.